Jakarta to study Mandela's talks offer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia appreciates South African President
\nNelson Mandela's offer to host talks on East Timor, but said
\nyesterday it was still considering whether or not to accept the
\nproposal.<\/p>\n
\"We appreciate it but it hasn't been accepted yet,\" Ghaffar
\nFadyl, director of foreign information at the Indonesian foreign
\nministry, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia still considers the current avenues of
\ndiscussion, the tripartite talks and All-Inclusive Intra East
\nTimor Dialog, as \"valid, so we're not looking at others\".<\/p>\n
After meeting with Mandela in Pretoria Tuesday, the United
\nNations secretary general's special envoy for East Timor,
\nJamsheed Marker, said the South African president had offered to
\nhost talks between the Indonesian government and exiled Timorese
\nactivists.<\/p>\n
The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated as
\nIndonesia's 27th province in 1976, but the UN still recognizes
\nLisbon as the administrative power there.<\/p>\n
Mandela's name has been increasingly linked to the East Timor
\nissue after he sent a letter to President Soeharto calling for
\nthe release of jailed Timorese leader Jose Alexandre \"Xanana\"
\nGusmao. Mandela's request was turned down by Jakarta earlier this
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
Ghaffar was also quoted by Antara as saying yesterday that
\nIndonesia's response to Mandela's offer should not be interpreted
\nas a \"welcoming\" or \"positive\" response.<\/p>\n
\"If we welcomed or gave a positive response it would mean that
\nwe accept,\" he said, adding that for the time being Indonesia
\n\"respects\" the offer.<\/p>\n
When asked to comment on whether Soeharto intends to visit
\nSouth Africa soon, Ghaffar told the Post that if the President
\ndid it would be to reciprocate Mandela's visit here last month.<\/p>\n
He said the visit would not center on the East Timor issue but
\nwould be aimed at enhancing bilateral ties. (10\/33)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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